title: The question of knowledge in evidence-based design for healthcare facilities: limitations and suggestions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To help designers and researchers and other proponents of evidence-based design (EBD) overcome limitations concerning knowledge categorization and acquisition of evidence-based design (EBD).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The evidence-based design (EBD) approach for healthcare facilities has been widely embraced by both designers and researchers in recent years; however, there are some limitations concerning knowledge categorization and acquisition of EBD. These limitations include an overemphasis on empirical knowledge gained by experimental research, a narrow focus that excludes design knowledge generated outside healthcare and allied fields, and a lack of interest in empirical knowledge gained by qualitative studies. In order to overcome these limitations, the proponents of EBD must acknowledge that design knowledge relevant to healthcare design can be found in disciplines unrelated to healthcare; that design knowledge does not always need empirical validation; and that design knowledge of the semantic kind can be more easily accessed and understood through qualitative studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To reassess the foundations of knowledge of EBD with moderated skepticism is necessary because there are philosophical and analytical problems yet to be overcome in delivering on the promises of EBD. To question and reassess the foundations of knowledge base of EBD is not necessarily to deny its value, but rather to stimulate a judicious and balanced appraisal of its limitations so that, in future, we are able to take necessary steps to overcome these limitations.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Design process, evidence-based design, methodology, theory, interdisciplinary.
authors.affiliation: CORRESPONDING AUTHOR: Mahbub Rashid, PhD, RA, School of Architecture, Design, and Planning, University of Kansas, 1465 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, KS 66045; mrashid@ku.edu; (785) 864-4405.
authors.forename: Mahbub
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rashid
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D006268:Health Facilities; D006801:Humans